Every state in the union has an image. Often it’s a two-faced image. I live in Illinois, the land of cornfields and corrupt politicians. I visit its northern neighbor Wisconsin, the land of cheese-heads and granola-eaters. Ludicrous simplifications, but there you are. Last week I bought a cup of coffee in small cafe in Illinois, then a few days later I stopped in a similar place in Wisconsin. The placards behind the coffee machines in each place expressed such different philosophies that I found a new way to compare these two states.Illinois.“Be kind. No act of kindness, however small, is wasted.”“Don’t Try so Hard to Fit In. You were Born to Stand Out.”“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.Wisconsin.“Due to Economic Cutbacks, the Light at the End of the Tunnel has Been Turned Off.”“If you could read my mind, you wouldn’t be smiling.”“Today’s Menu: Take It or Leave It.” Wisconsin wins on style.